Minke whale found in surf off North Truro beach

NORTH TRURO - Officials with the International Fund for Animal Welfare have responded to a minke whale that was found floundering in the surf off North Truro this afternoon.

The water around the whale is bloody and people are standing around watching as IFAW Marine Mammal Rescue and Research Program officials discuss what to do.

The whale, which is a member of the baleen suborder, is "skinny," IFAW Assistant Stranding Coordinator CT Harry said.

It's unclear if a wound under its belly is the reason it is so skinny or whether the injury was caused by it rubbing up against the rocks, Harry said. The whale was found north of Cold Storage Beach at about 3 p.m., he said.

The whale, which is partially submerged, is estimated to be three to five tons and 20-25 feet long, he said.

Adult minke whales can get up to about 10 tons normally, Harry said.

Officials will wait for the tide to go out and, if the whale hasn't died on its own, they will sedate it and, if it doesn't die from the sedation, they will humanely euthanize it, Harry said. High tide in the area is at about 5:45 p.m.

A week ago a dead minke whale was found in Barnstable Harbor. The 15-foot whale was removed and taken to be necropsied.

Another 26-foot, 8,700-pound minke died in June after it was found entangled in fishing gear off Provincetown.